Panicing about food for the day!

The plans sound absolutely fine and I'd be more than happy being fed what you're suggesting.

I'm a bit confused about the pub though - if everyone is in the village hall, where does the pub come into it? Or are they catering it for you?

That's really nice to hear you say.

The landlord of the pub is someone who we hope will be able to help us with both catering and drinks.

He also has a marquee, although I'm not sure what size and condition it is in. I will find out this Sat evening when I go to a party at the pub where he is putting it up.

If it's a nice day we will pretty much take over the hall and courtyard/garden of the pub. There's a lovely tree that we could decorate too!

What you have planned sounds lovely and believe me you'd be surprised how many people like to muck in and get involved at a wedding. You could make a thing out of you and your husband serving it to people if you liked *not sure how much you will like this idea in your dress!* or get your BM's to do it. If not staff aren't that expensive or get a catering company who don't cost the earth.

If all else fails how about something that can be set up in the morning, and turned on whilst you're having a drink straight from the wedding.

If the pub guy is willing to do it even better.

Just a few suggestions

Sounds lovely.

You'll have to check that the pub are fine with technically providing external catering.

Also, I don't know the setup but you may have a problem with licensing laws if people are planning on drinking alcohol provided by the pub on land that isn't owned by it, if you know what I mean?

All things the landlord will be able to answer though.

If he can't provide the alcohol you could either provide it all yourself (I presume there's no corkage fees with the village hall) or, if you can't afford to do that and need people to buy their own drinks, then you could contact a bar hire company which will cost you a few hundred I would think.

Very reassuring to have people comment positively. Thank you.

Thank you also for bringing up licensing laws - I will make sure I speak to him about this. It's a sleepy village and I hope that we will be able to work something out.

I would like everyone to arrive at the reception to a glass of Pimm's or bottle of Peroni in the garden. We will also make sure we have some fizz for later on.

Sadly, I do think a bar company will be out of our budget range - and the drinks in the pub are very reasonable - probably cheaper than a bar company would charge.

Hi Unlikely Bride,

We recently went to a blessing and a reception in a village hall. It was quite low key but lovely and great fun.

They served canapes and then head a veggie curry with lots of naan bread, chutneys and side dishes to share on the tables.

I think they had about 80 in total but it was a great day.

HTH

That sounds really nice.

Absolutely - the best scenario would be for the pub to sort it. I just wanted to warn you of a possible problem. I'm sure they'll be able to work round it though.

Keep us posted!

I saw this at a pub once, I wasn't a guest at the wedding but having lunch in the pub, they set up a marque in the field opposite and then do a hog roast and people go to the pub to buy there drinks etc, it looked very cool and like everyone was having a good time.

2 sets of friends of mine had a relaxed wedding in their village chuch and then the reception in the local hall. One had a 2 course hot meal which was basically a help yourself roast, and the other got the local fish and chip shop to send in bundles of fish and chips! Both were lovely!

It all sounds brilliant - we've covered a few weddings at village halls where the couple & their family have sorted out the catering themselves, they've had bunting up, made everything themselves, just made it really personal and relaxed. If we were to do our wedding over this is exactly what we would do (and we've been to A LOT of weddings!!!) ?

Ali x

I think some of the better weddings are the informal/casual type with food to match you can't really go wrong with crowd pleaser's (done well) like fish and chips, bangers and mash, pie and mash etc etc!

We are having fish and chips by family friend but researched alternative just in case and similar pricing £5 a head!

We're having our reception in a village hall, and getting a bar to come in, which as long as they take £400 we don't have to pay for it, and the prices of the drinks are pretty much what you would expect to pay at a pub. We have to get a temporary event notice so they can sell alcohol, but that is being arranged by the bar and I think it only costs £21. Just in case it doesn't work out with the pub serving the drinks, it might be a possibility for you. Good luck.

I just wanted to thank all posters - you've calmed my nerves and made it seem possible.

I will keep people posted ?

We got an outside bar company and is free so long as £500 is spent on drinks by guests. Since we have 150 guests we figured this is highly likely and we are trying to decide whether we put some money behind bar or use drinks tokens for guests so everyone gets at least some free. This is only for evening, during day and wedding breakfast we are buying the alcohol prob just through tesco cheap deals at xmas.

If you don't mind me asking, where are you having your do? Sounds a lot like my set up in May. How have the talks with the pub land lord going? We were thinking possibly just loads of nice salad/ meats and bread rolls + cakes on the middle of each table as we are going to put the tables in long rows.

I love the stalls you see at markets and festivals that have one big pan of yummy pork and they serve it in a big bap with stuffing and apple sauce - that would go down a treat with me and it's so quick to serve! xxxxxxxxxx

I am seeing more and more hog roasts and they always go down well. and fit in great with the village Feate theme too.

And I love the fish and chips idea, you could even a a local fish and chip van to turn up, and then an ice cream van after, (I cant wait for my next one of these weddings now !)

Its good that the bars do not charge if you get to a certain drinks sale, seems fair